The Region

An El Paso lawyer asked by the family of Night Stalker suspect Richard Ramirez to represent the accused serial killer said it will be "impossible" for him to defend Ramirez because the case could take two years to complete. Attorney Manuel Barraza said that Ramirez, 25, may be best represented by Deputy Public Defender Allen Adashek, who conferred with the suspect at the Los Angeles County Central Jail. Barraza also met with Ramirez and described him as initially "really upbeat." But Ramirez's mood became "very somber" when questioned directly about the 15 murders and 21 assaults he is suspected of having committed in California, Barraza said. "'I didn't do it,"' Barraza quoted Ramirez as saying. "'It's not me."' Ramirez is expected to enter pleas to one of the killings in Los Angeles Municipal Court on Sept. 27. Prosecutors said they expect to file additional charges against him by then.